Design that works – Optimising designs for travel apps and portals

In today’s era, a finger click is all that is needed to book flights, hotels, cars and plan holidays in general. Internet has made everything accessible on the go. Thanks to user-friendly websites and their ultra simple and efficient mobile apps, elaborate holidays can be planned and booked before you can bat an eyelid. To enable easy navigation and smooth functioning, many travel websites follow the same pattern as they are familiar to the consumer.

Here are some of the design trends that have been used particularly for travel websites:

1) Visually appealing Photographs

What is it that catches your eye the moment you enter a travel website? A striking and attractive picturesque landscape of a specific destination displayed prominently on the homepage. This kind of a life-size digital picture takes up atleast half (if not all) of the website’s first page. This is usually done to engage the traveler’s attention and achieve as much visual impact as possible. Once it appeals to the consumer, half the battle is already won as the user is momentarily under the spell which acts as a positive reinforcement.

2) HTML5 and CSS animation

Several websites are also known to use HTML5 and CSS animation to enhance the visual appeal to the end consumer. Now-a-days consumers are extremely tech-savvy and are exposed to latest technologies which is why websites are also designed keeping in mind the high standard prevalent among the masses. HTML5 and CSS animation are delightfully charming techniques to effectively hook the consumer as they have the ability to draw attention as well as entertain.

3) Simple interface for mobile apps

When it comes to mobile driven interactivity, designers have crafted the apps so as to be as easily navigable as possible. The digital age has made people impatient by nature and a complicated mobile app will only serve to drive them away. For this purpose, mobile applications thrive on simplicity and immediacy. The font is clear and readable plus they can be zoomed in and out with your finger as per personal preference. Swiping and scrolling are two of the most popular methods used to browse through a travel mobile app as it enables quick easy navigation and back-and-forth between different tabs.

4) Attractive holiday packages and discount deals

Most of the websites follow a similar pattern. In the homepage, somewhere in the middle or towards the end, one can view large chunks of striking imagery of holiday packages and discount deals of several destinations, hotel rooms and so forth. More information about the deal would be provided after you click on the thumbnail but it’s a classic mechanism used to grab the viewer’s attention immediately, especially, if the package deal is relevant to them. For instance, a honeymoon package would display a stunning and romantic imagery which would draw attention from the get go with the concerned target audience.

5) Strong narrative teamed with enchanting visuals

Exhibiting only stunning photographs are not enough. You need to pair it with a powerful story to have the complete effect. Many websites have strong text which are carefully crafted and written in a way to resonate and emotionally-connect with the audience. If the enchanting pictures did not convince you enough, then the accompanying text will do the trick.

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— Vinay Shinde

UI Designer by day, biker at heart, and passionate foodie. Heads the design team at Qtech, and has worked on brands like Disney and is always looking at creating a new design trend in travel. Loves his Royal Enfield Bullet and often takes it for a stroll in his free time.